Jeffry Zolkower

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About

Jeffry Zolkower is a key architect of next-generation time-domain astronomy, specializing in the design and deployment of infrared survey instrumentation. As a lead engineer on the Wide-field Infrared Transient Explorer (WINTER), he has driven the development of a dedicated 1-meter robotic telescope at Palomar Observatory that will revolutionize our view of the dynamic infrared sky. His work on WINTER’s design requirements—cited over 45 times across his most influential papers—has established the technical foundation for a survey capable of discovering and characterizing transient phenomena, particularly the electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events. Zolkower’s contributions bridge the critical gap between optical and infrared time-domain surveys, enabling the detection of highly obscured or cool transients that visible-light telescopes cannot see. His engineering leadership ensures that WINTER will achieve its dual science goals: rapid follow-up of multi-messenger sources and systematic exploration of the variable infrared universe. For students and researchers, Zolkower exemplifies how innovative instrument design directly enables transformative astrophysical discovery.